Samara Weaving leaves US show after sex scene complaint

#MeToo - A year of progress amid a backlash1:20

Over the past year, #MeToo has given women the power to fight back against sexual assault and oppression. It has also grown more
complex, with several setbacks causing a backlash which threatens to undermine the message behind the cause.

December 5th 2018

4 months ago

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Samara Weaving. Picture: Kevork DjansezianSource:Getty Images

Australian actress Samara Weaving asked to be released from a lucrative TV contract after complaining about the show creator’s handling of a sex scene, US reports claim.

Variety reports that Weaving, who is the niece of famed actor Hugo Weaving, sparked an investigation into SMILF creator and star Frankie Shaw after being asked to film a sex scene nude while shooting season two of the series, which airs on Stan in Australia.

The Hollywood Reporter also claims Shaw had left video monitors on while filming the sex scene while the set was supposed to be closed, resulting in Weaving reporting the incident to Showtime and SAG-AFTRA.

Samara Weaving. Picture: Kevork DjansezianSource:Getty Images

Weaving, who was eventually allowed to film the scene wearing underwear, also complained to co-star Rosie O’Donnell, who then raised it with an executive at Showtime.

The 26-year-old reportedly told O’Donnell that Shaw had made her “uncomfortable” filming a similar scene in season one.

Weaving had allegedly been asked to perform a sex scene naked with 40 minutes’ notice despite having a no nudity clause in her contract.

When she objected Shaw “pulled her into a trailer” and “yanked off her own top and demanded to know why Weaving had a problem being nude when Shaw had no such concerns”, THR claims.

Frankie Shaw stars in and is the creator of SMILF. Picture: Mark SchaferSource:Supplied

Through her lawyers, Shaw didn’t deny the confrontation took place but told THR her breasts were not exposed when she pulled off her top in front of Weaving.

According to Variety, Weaving’s complaint sparked a human resources investigation into Shaw which found there was no misconduct.

Weaving was released from her contract “at her request” and is not thought to be returning for SMILF’s third season.